7.7 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology

economic prosperity, standard of living, scientific management, assembly line, Henry Ford, consumer appliances, impact of the automobile, open shop, welfare capitalism, Art Deco, mass media, radio, networks, movie industry, Hollywood, phonographs, aviation, Charles Lindbergh, popular heroes

1922-1928

period of economic prosperity and improved standard of living (indoor plumbing, central heating, etc.), farmers not included

causes of economic prosperity

• increased productivity - scientific management and assembly line (workers remain in the same place, doing same operation repeatedly)

• energy technology - increased use of oil and electricity in factories and automobiles

• government policy - tax cuts, lower interest, and relaxed bank regulations

• consumer economy - advertising, buying on credit, consumer appliances

• impact of the automobile

  • auto production promoted economic growth and other industries

  • all aspects of American social life

farm problems

• best years: 1916-1918, prices were kept high, wartime demand in Europe and the government’s guaranteed minimum price for wheat and corn

• farmers borrowed heavily during war, an increased productivity led to surplus product and falling prices

labor unions’ struggle

• open shop - practice of companies keeping jobs open to non-union workers → union membership declines

• welfare capitalism - employers offered improved benefits and wages, reducing interest in unions

• southern companies used violence to discourage unionization

• the federal government favored business, strikes failed, conservative courts ruled against labor unions’ interests in most cases

technology and culture

• mass media - radio

• movie industry centered in Hollywood

• popular music - Jazz, blues, classical, “American Standard”

• aviation - improving technology of airplanes, speed and distance reords

• popular heroes - shift from politicians to sports and movie personalities